Apartment 415

Apartment 415 was located on the fourth floor in a run-down tenement over on the west end of the city. It was in a horse shoe style set up at the end of the hall and on each side of that wooden door were apartments 416 and 414. Each door had a metal knocker and a little white card in a slot beside it with the words City Management. The detective was in the narrow confines of the corridor and he wondered how they managed to get furniture in these apartments.

He then knocked on the door using the available knocker and waited for a moment. The door he stood directly in front of opened and a short Arabic male rushed out, swinging a hammer at him towards his forehead. The hammer broke skin and pounded skull making the detective stagger back after the impact. The man swung the hammer again hitting the same spot, knocking the detective to the floor.

Through the blood spurting over his eyes, the detective still managed to see the man grab his legs and pull him into the apartment. He then hit the detective again on the head and a couple shots at his kneecaps. The detective released a thin screech and yanked his knees upward by reflex action.

The Arabic man stood in front of a mirror in the living area and began a long monotonous stream of obscenities. He was yelling at his reflection reminding himself of the religious war that was going on around him. He kept telling his reflection that if evil wins the war, the demons would run the human race.

The detective almost reached his gun, until a flying foot kicked him in his chin. The man picked up the gun and shot all the bullets into the sofa. He then slammed the empty gun onto the table swearing viciously and heaving his chest. The detective was on the carpet face down in agony. The flying foot caught him at full force which almost knocked him out cold.

The Arabic man was disturbed and needed mental help thought the detective. He wasn’t a killer, he just snapped. The man then began grabbing furniture and smashing it against the walls. He was agitated and he didn’t care who knew. He then heard police sirens outside his apartment. He was still breathing hard when he looked out the window.

The police captain, with several uniforms in tow, negotiated the cramp corridor in front of apartment 415. He pounded on the door identifying his status and the reason he was there. The Arabic man stood next to the window planning his next move. Around the room the fragments of shattered furniture laid about like firewood. It looked like a struggle had taken place, but that was not the case.

“The devil’s soldiers wait…”

“No,” the detective on the floor half whispered. “They’re police officers, and they want to help you.”

The Arabic man looked down at the enormous body on the floor and wondered how he remained lucid after the pounding he took. The detective was curled on the floor by the sofa, white faced, clutching his wrecked knees.

“Open up or we will break her down.”

The Arabic man just stood directly in front of the mirror awaiting instructions. After several more warnings the captain’s voice faded to nothing. He then turned to face the detective and then to the door. He looked as sorry as he could look.

“What are you thinking about there buddy?” asked the detective. Now he was less concerned about who was good or bad.

The Arabic man walked over to the window and opened it all the way up. He winced at the brightness of the sun, its light filtering through the high, narrow window. The detective tried to muster enough strength to rise from the floor. He used the sofa to gain more stability as he managed to lean.

“I cannot be taken alive,” shouted the Arabic man. The detective watched him move closer to the window hesitantly, but with a determined look on his face.

“Don’t do it,” pleaded the detective. “They’re just going to take you to the police station.”

Apparently the place where God’s soldier would be judged was located at the police station. He couldn’t let God down, and he couldn’t allow himself to be tortured by the one called “captain.”

The detective’s overriding concern was to get the captain into the apartment before the Arabic man could jump. “Captain break down the door!”

The captain and his men stormed apartment 415 with their guns drawn and they opened fire immediately killing the Arabic man before he was able to jump. After the commotion had settled the only sound that was fading was the detective’s voice finishing off the long winded noooooooo…”

Comments

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Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

Til thank you so much you're too kind :)

Mary Craig 4 years agofrom New York

Poor quality? Are you serious? No way! They need to read the hubs not count the words.

Another suspense filled hub Frank. I love the way you start, putting us right in that hallway. I can see those doors and the white cards in the slot. Poor little man, so deluded. You twisted the end into the unexpected which is what we have come to expect from you ;)

Voted up, awesome, and interesting.

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

hey Alastar good to see you Happy Pops Day if you are a dad..:)

Alastar Packer 4 years agofrom North Carolina

You can't help but admire that detective. Too bad for the religiously demented dude the others weren't so thoughtful. Gripping write my friend.

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you ausseye in name and nature too LOL thanks for stopping by

Ausseye 4 years ago

Hi frankInNameAndNature:

A good story hammered home the message of ethnic tension…..oh to be the captain of the Titanic in the world of ice….you bring a brittle truth about Arabic apartments and gaining entry in a country gunned into action!!!!

:

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you too wayne barrett :)

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thanks Gypsy :)

Gypsy Rose Lee 4 years agofrom Riga, Latvia

A real intense and interesting story with a real Hollywood like finish.

Wayne Barrett 4 years agofrom Clearwater Florida

Intense story, Frank. Good work my friend.

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you Sue for visiting my apartment :)

Sueswan 4 years ago

Hi Frank,

“The devil’s soldiers wait…” The captain and his men ended up being the devil's soldiers.

Voted up and awesome.

Have a good weekend. :)

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you Icbenefield for reading and undertsanding my characters..

lcbenefield 4 years agofrom Georgia

A beautiful and tragic read. Another senseless death as the result of misunderstanding and fear of someone from a different culture. I appreciate the detective's empathy for and wanting to save the man who beat him. The detective saw him as another human being in need of help. Thanks for the great read.

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you Valleypoet for being loyal to my efforts bless you bro...:)

Valleypoet 4 years ago

Very dramatic and sad too...and a trademark twist...thanks buddy for another great read:-))

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you so much Jackie, my dear Faith, and MrsBrownsparlour for stopping by my apartment :)

Lurana Brown 4 years agofrom Chicagoland, Illinois

Sordid and fascinating and sad. Very interesting writing!!

Faith Reaper 4 years agofrom southern USA

Oh, I'm sorry dearest Frank. I really do not see how your writing is poor quality. I had one hub unfeatued, and it was a poem. Granted it was short, but it had always been featured before with plenty of views and comments. So, I had to add to it to make it "evergreen" and now it is featured again. I just basically added an article to the poem, but the poem could stand on its own in my mind. Don't lose your faith dear Frank, as I never will! :)

(Came back to share.)

Hugs, Faith Reaper

Jackie Lynnley 4 years agofrom The Beautiful South

Boy, ain't that the truth! A familiar story even if in a different fashion and more interesting to read!

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you too Blossoms for visiting my Apartment 415 :)

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thank you kindly Ruch :)

Bronwen Scott-Branagan 4 years agofrom Victoria, Australia

A great story and insight into a disturbed mind. Loved the unexpected ending. So well written!

You never come in with blind faith.. and I respect you for that.. my dear faith..: although Hub sends me an email saying this is poor quality... that stunned my Faith.. but hey I stand tall holding on tightly to my faith LOL

Faith Reaper 4 years agofrom southern USA

Ouch and oops here!!!

Excellent write here once again, which is no surprise, as I always have faith you will pull it off with an exciting read and surprising ending as well! :)

Voted up +++ and sharing

God bless. Hugs and love, Faith Reaper

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

lol yep... thanks tobusiness

Jo Alexis-Hagues 4 years agofrom Bedfordshire, U.K

Frank, another good read...one of those days when you wished you had stayed in bed. :).

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

thanks duffsmom

P. Thorpe Christiansen 4 years agofrom Pacific Northwest, USA

Great stuff Frank. Love the ending.

Author

Frank Atanacio 4 years agofrom Shelton

lol yeah you're right MsDora :) thank you for popping on by :)

Dora Weithers 4 years agofrom The Caribbean

Some days are like this. Whatever can go wrong goes wrong, and we never get to figure out what the right should have been. Surprise ending to a good story. Thanks!